Water Quality | CH SP Acquisition LLC, d/b/a Spanish Peaks Mountain Club | Spanish Peaks Mountain Club Snowmaking | Comment Period Closes March 6, 2025
APPLICANT:
CH SP Acquisition LLC, d/b/a Spanish Peaks Mountain Club (Spanish Peaks)
25 Town Center Ave.
Big Sky, Montana
FACILITY NAME:
Spanish Peaks Mountain Club Snowmaking
FACILITY LOCATION:
Spirit Mountain, Andesite Mountain
Spanish Peaks Base Area
Madison and Gallatin County
RECEIVING WATER:
North and South Unnamed Tributaries to Middle Fork West Fork Gallatin River
PERMIT NUMBER:
MT0032174
CH SP Acquisition LLC d/b/a Spanish Peaks Mountain Club (Spanish Peaks) has applied for an MPDES permit to discharge treated domestic wastewater as artificial snow on ski runs of the Spanish Peaks Mountain Club on Spirit Mountain, Andesite Mountain, and the Spanish Peaks base area. The source of the treated wastewater is the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District wastewater treatment facility. Spanish Peaks proposes to discharge up to 44 million gallons of treated wastewater as artificial snow in two phases: 23 million gallons per year (MGY) in Phase 1 and an additional 21 MGY in Phase 2. Snowmaking will occur primarily during the early portion of the ski season. Natural snow will accumulate on top of and mix with the artificial snow. The wastewater will be disinfected to standards required for wastewater reuse. The permit includes additional effluent limitations to protect human health and the environment and the beneficial uses of the receiving waterbodies. The permit also requires significant surface water and snowmelt monitoring during the spring snowmelt and runoff season. Surface water and snowmelt monitoring must be conducted, and the results reported to DEQ every year of the permit term.
A nondegradation analysis was performed in development of the proposed permit and appropriate requirements have been included in the proposed permit to prevent significant changes in the receiving water quality.
Associated Materials:
Send Comments To:
DEQ Water Quality Division
Water Protection Bureau
PO Box 200901
Helena, MT 59620
Or electronically to: DEQWPBPublicComments@mt.gov
Tags: MEPA, Public Comment and Water